BBC looks north

MORE BBC stations could switch to Greater Manchester, says the corporation's chief. Director general Mark Thompson said that the region could be considered as a possible base for stations such as BBC2 and BBC3 in future years.

MORE BBC stations could switch to Greater Manchester, says the corporation's chief.

Director general Mark Thompson said that the region could be considered as a possible base for stations such as BBC2 and BBC3 in future years.

The BBC is already moving several key national departments to Greater Manchester. Two sites have been short-listed for the move - one in the Salford Quays area and one on Princess Parkway in south Manchester.

The site will be home to BBC Sports and the radio station Five Live. It will bring an additional 1,500 jobs to the city. There are already 800 BBC staff based at Oxford Road. Mr Thompson was explaining his vision for the corporation in the north of England to an audience of political and media figures at the University of Manchester. He said that he was confident that a northern headquarters would be a huge success.

He said: "Our plans are already ambitious. We have got three UK networks as part of this move. We have weighed it up and we think that the package we have currently got is the right package. But success will breed more success. Who knows what will happen in the future."

Mr Thompson said that London-based staff would be surprised by the vibrant nature of Manchester.

He said: "What we have said to staff is that we want to work with everyone to achieve this move. My own view is as far as quality of life goes, you can get all the benefits of London in this part of the world. It is just buzzing and exciting in this city."

Mr Thompson was speaking at the University of Manchester at an event organised by the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts.